Why are Storm Shadow missiles a new flashpoint between Putin and the West?

Could the lifting of restrictions of long-range missiles lead to wider escalation between Russia and the West?

The United States and United Kingdom have both agreed to review Ukraine’s request to lift restrictions on the use of their long-range missiles, including Storm Shadow missiles, in Russian ​​territory.

But the growing indications from the West that it may approve Ukraine’s desire to use these weapons deep inside Russian territory have also sparked a terse response – and threat – from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Here’s what we know about these long-range weapons and why they’re at the heart of the latest escalation in rhetoric during Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The Storm Shadow is a long range, air-launched cruise missile. This means missiles are launched from military aircraft in the air rather than from the ground. They can hit targets up to 250km (155 miles) away.

Used from Ukraine’s airspace, they could strike deep into Russian territory. If restrictions on the use of Storm Shadow missiles – provided by the UK but developed and manufactured using US components – are lifted, Russian targets in locations such as Kursk, Millerovo and Rostov could be easier to strike.